I just started a new embroidery project: a elk embroidery kit from the Hannah Dale collection by Bothy Threads . Since I Living in Sweden, I've spotted a moose a few times. So this one seemed very fitting to make! Bothy Threads packages They always come with a black-and-white chart, and to be honest, I find that the best way to work. It looks more organized, and you can easily use a highlighter for clarity.
Josianne asked me out Instagram How exactly I approach this. So here it is: my method for marking an embroidery pattern, plus some handy extra tips!
What is a counting pattern anyway?
With a cross-stitch embroidery kit, you'll receive a chart. This is a grid with symbols or colors that show you exactly where to embroider each stitch. Each square represents one cross stitch on your embroidery fabric, so you can follow the pattern stitch by stitch.
What do you need?
- An embroidery kit with counting pattern
- Two highlighters in different colors, I use yellow and blue
This is how I do it:
-
First I mark what I am going to embroider.
I choose a color I want to embroider (for example, anything dark brown and close together), and mark that area in the pattern with marker color 1 (I use yellow). -
Then I get to work.
I embroider everything I just marked. -
Then I mark it again.
Once I've finished that section, I highlight it again with highlighter color 2 (in my case: blue). This way, I can see at a glance what's already been done and what still needs to be done. - And repeat!
Why marking your embroidery pattern is a smart thing to do:
- You are less likely to make counting errors
- You keep an overview, even with larger projects
- You can easily pause and continue later without having to puzzle out where you left off
Additional tips from me and from customers:
- Make a copy of your pattern if you don't want to mark on the original.
- Laminate the pattern And use whiteboard markers. This way, you can easily erase markings if you make a mistake.
- Color pattern in your pack? Copy and print it in grayscale. It's often more efficient and easier to highlight.
- Digital marking You can also! Scan the pattern and open it in a PDF app like GoodNotes or Adobe Reader. Or use an app specifically designed for counted patterns, such as Pattern Keeper of Markup.
